Portfolio case



Feb. 20, 1940. J M, FELDMAN I 2,190,707

PORTFOLI 0 CASE Filed Oct. 1'7, 1938 A I ATTORNEY.

condition, like a brief case; 1

PatentedFeb. 2 Q,1 9 40 2,190,707

v a 2,190,707. I

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE U roRTFouo oAs Joseph M; Feldman, New York,:N. Y.- Application October 1'7, 1938, Serial No. 235,411

-' 4 Claims; (Cl. 129=15) r This invention relates to portfolio cases, par- Figii2is a similar view thereof with one of the ticularly of the typewherein an expansible port: braces in position to hold the case open and with folio is mounted on an upright case member so the writing board in its inward operative'position. V as to be expansible downward toward the hori- Fig.v 3 isga similar view thereof with the portzontal case member, in the open position of the folio expandedand the writing board inoutward case. operative "position. t n Such a case hasalwaysbeen heretofore pro; I 4 is a 'similar viewof a modified form of vided with a rigid frame to permit toggles to be" the case, with the writing board partially withconnected thereto to-keep the case open for'the drawn, and the braces in the partition forming 1 suspension of the portfolio in use. l position. l I j Alsosuchcase hasgenerally required'some sep- Fig. 5; is a fragmentary view with, parts re-v arate locking device to keep the portfolio 0131- moved showingdetailsof the brace structure.

lapsed when desired, p I Fig. 6 is a sectionalview taken on line 65 of A It is accordingly one object of the invention to Fig. 4.

providesuch case without a frame or rigid str'uc 1 The advantages of the'invention as hereout ture so as to reduce the weight of the case. v lined are best realized when all of its features and Another object of the invention is to providev "instrumentalities are combined in one" and j'the suchacase with flexible side walls to permit the, same structure, but, useful devices may be procase to be carried under the arm; in collapsed ducedembodyinglessthan the whole.

A. It will, be obvious to those skilled in the art to 2'0 Another object of the invention is to provide which theinvention appertains, that the same improved means to hold the case open and dis may be incorporated in several difierent constr'iictribute the resulting stresses along the flexible tions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is

case walls. .e submitted merely as showing the preferred ex-j" Another object of the invention is the tprovie, emplification of the invention. V 25 sion of improved means for holding thelcas'e open Referring in detail to the drawing, l [i denotes nd f r r in n n n s in the casein the acaseembodying the invention and which i light closed position; 1 and, flexible so that itneed not be carried only Another object of the nv n s the provias a satchel, but may alsobe carried under the sion of improved means to hold the case open arm as a brief-case to permit the owner to enter t6 and to afforda partitionin the closedposi-tion omeeswherehe would not be admitted without,

of the case. Y undue questioningif he werecarrying a satchel Another object of the invention is to provide a; and hence appeared to be asale'sman. flexible case with partition means adapted to The case It) may include a plurality of sections H o the e p and 9 move W O e t e or case members such as H, l2, hingedly inter-[35" Case pfl ll p ing thereof; connected along one side as at l3 so that one,

A further Object bf t inVentiOniS t p omember acts-as a'cover for the other. Desirably Vision O a rec p Such a areas? avin thecase is arranged' so that section II is upright advantages indicated; and having few n l i or vertical and section l2 horizontal in the nor- 4G. ple parts, and whichis inexpensive to make,and mal open'position of the case. i0

durable, reliable andefficient in use. i -Each case member ll, l2, may have a marginal Other objects and advantages of the invention wall of flexible material 14 extending continuwill be o pp as the Specififibltidnf p ously along the sides and ends thereof, a closure ceeds. t such as a slide fastener 15 extending along the i With the oresa d ob in v ew. the ve ends and one side of the case t serve to inter- 45 ticn consists in the novel combinations and arconiiect the case sections to close the case as rangements of parts hereinafter described in their" sho'w'n in Fig. 1. I preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subsuitable handles l6 may be provided, prefjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed erably of the type partially slidable inward and 5 drawing, wherein'like parts are designated by downward through openings l I in the pocket 5 the same reference characters throughout the forming'mC that are Secured totheflbnt I several views. Y and back walls [9 of the case. The arrangement 'In the drawing: i 1 is such that the handles can-slide outward to Figure l is a perspective isometric view ofa operative position but cannot be withdrawn. 1 case embodying the invention. r -Withinthe case member II is an expansible able manner, desirably hi'ngedly, with the hinge case or portfolio 20, which, in collapsed position lies wholly in the member II and within the marginal walls, but in expanded position as shown .being attached to the wall IQ of the member H,

for instance, in accordance with my Patent No. 1,806,246, issued May 19, 1931. It will be perceived that the portfolio 2a is any well known type and includes highly pliable pleated gussets 2| in the folds of which the partitions 22 may be removably or permanently connected. Itwillbe noted that the gussets 2! may carry the lowermost wall at a point spaced above-thelhorizon-- tal case member 12, or may have sufficient extent .to permit the lowermost wall of the portfolio to rest securely on the case member. It'

will now be apparent that all the compartments of thefportfolio are fully open for instant inspection and removal of contents, and can be in stantly folded to collapsed position, backinto the case member I I as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to reliably hold the portfolio in its expanded position, I provide one or more braces 23 which coact in such. a manner as sustainfin whole or in part the weight of the upper part of the portfolio. Heretofore toggles have. been provided connected to the portfolio element'or'to the case element. The braces herein shown are connected to one. of these elements, preferably the case. as at the case member II, for instance, to the flexible end walls 14 thereof, in a mo?- axes being lengthwise of said end walls. The braces may be variously arranged and constructed according to one or more of theirdesired functions, and may have'flexible hinge-like portions 24 connecting them to the adjacent end walls Hi. The rest of the braces may be stiffened and farr'anged to transmit stress to the flexible -marginal walls over a considerable length. Thus the braces 23 may comprise flexible sheet material with a U-shaped wire reenforcement 25 whoseends 26 terminate at the flexible portions 24. Y j a .Since the braces 23 extend down to-thehinge line l3"of the case, they maybe readily swung outward to lie at right anglesto the'cas'e sections, for releasable securement 'or'engagement with the horizontal case member-l2, for. example, at the flexible marginal walls thereof, as-by means of the mating releasable pin' andhole fasteners 21, 28. In the attached position, the 'horizontal lower run 21 of thewire may rest di rectly upon the bottom wall IQ of the 'cas e me ber I2, the adjacent flexible marginal wall 14 yielding downward for this purpose, if necessary.

Thus the case isreliably held in the open posi- Ifdesired, the braces 23 may serve as retain-j ers for articles in the case member II or may form partition means therefor in the closed-position of the case. Thus the braces mayfinterentinuous partition that extends down to the'hinge line l3 and neatly and reliably retains the portfolio, without strain thereon, and withoutreq'uiring any special manipulation for opening of the partition.

If required, the braces 23 mayalso serve as a compartment or pocket means for which purpose they may have pockets such as 30, 3| secured on a suitable face thereof. These pockets are conveniently accessible in any position of the braces 23, and regardless of the position of the portfolio, nor do these pockets in any way interfere with the writing board hereinafter described, norrequire any particular manipulation in opening and closing the case.

Since the case Ill isintended to be widely use by'traveling salesmen, it is desirable to provide some means whereby the salesman can conveniently write while holding the case and portfolio open on'his lap. Accordingly there is provided in the case member l2 a Writing board 32 which 'is easily movable inward and outward, for instance, toward and away from the hinge line I3 and between the braces 23, whereby the latter will notinterfere with norexert pressure on the writing board to retard its movement. The writing'board may be movable through a slot opening 33 in the front marginal wall Ma and thence alongsuitable guides such as 34 'affixed to the bottom wall 19 of the case member I2, according to the structure more particularly shown in Fig.1 4.

A cheaper arrangement is that shown in Fig. 4 wherein the writing board 35 is slidable outward over the front flexible wall Mb which is in consequence collapsed. 7 Any suitable guide means,

such as angle members 34 are used which may be secured to a board such as a tab or flap as shown in my prior patent hereinbefore referred to, whereby the braces 23 may be used as in Fig.

3, and the portfolio kept closed, so that the writing board can be used inits inward position. The guides 34' may be secured to a reenforcement plate 36' for the wall l9. To limit outward .movement of the board 35, the latter may have outwardly projecting stop pins 31 engageable with like inwardly projecting stop pins 38 affixed here hingedly connected together for relative.

movement to closed position and to open positionwith one case member being upright, a portfolio having upright expansible end gussets-of pliant material, said portfolio being connected to theupright case member and. resting on the companion case member in the downwardly expanded position of the end gussets, and brace members connected to the upright case member at theends thereof, means releasably connecting thebrace members to the companion case member at the ends of the latter, said brace members holding the upright case member in upright position, the said gussets being in close proximity to the adjacent'brace members so as to be guidingly laterally supported by the brace members with the latter being. of'sufflcient size to overlie substantial areas of the gussets, said brace members hingedly related to said upright case member along the ends of the latter so as to be inwardly swingable toward the upright ease member to enclose the portfolio in the collapsed position of the latter. 1

2. A device including a case having an upper case member and a lower case member, said case members being hingedly' interconnected with the upper case member being upright in the open position of the case, braces hingedlyconnected to the upright case member along the ends-thereof so as to be movable to lie along the inner face of said upright case member and outward to engage the lower case member along the ends thereof, means releasably connecting the brace members to the lower case member in the said outward position of the brace members, the latter constituting plate-like parallel elements in the said outward releasably connected position thereof, a portfolio connected at one side to the upper case member and having end gussets expansible so that the other side of the portfolio rests on the lower case member, said gussets lying between and closely adjacent to the brace members to be guidingly retained therebyagainst lateral movement, said brace members enclosing the portfolio in collapsed position thereof with the brace members in inward position, and means releasably retaining the brace members in said inward position to maintain the portfolio collapsed, said portfolio being otherwiselfreely expansible. o

3. A device including a casehaving an upper case member and a lower case member, said case members being hingediy interconnected with the upper case member being upright in the open position of the case, braces hingedly connected to the upright case member along the ends thereof so as to be movable to lie along the inner face of said upright case member and outward to engage the lower case member alongthe ends thereof, means releasably connecting the brace members to the lower case member in the said outward position of the brace members, the latter constituting plate-like ,parallel elements in the said outward releasably connected position ,there of, and means for releasably interconnecting the brace members in the inward position thereof, with the brace members sumciently spaced from the adjacent inner face of theupright case mem her to provide a partially closed space for enclosing an expansible portfolio, with said brace members adapted to guidingly laterally retain the portfolio in its expanded position when the brace members are connected to the lower case member.

4. A device including a case having an upper case member and a lower case member, said case members being hingedly interconnected with the upper case member being upright in theuopenposition of the case, braces hingedly connected to the upright case member along the ends thereof so as tobe movable to lie along the inner face of said upright case member and outward to engage the lower case member along the ends thereof, means releasably connecting the brace members to the lower case member inthe said outward position of the brace membersdan ex: pansible-collapsible container connected to the upper case member so as to be freely expansible outward and downward toward the lowercase member, said container: lying within the upper case member in its collapsed position and being thus maintained by the brace members inthe inward position of the latter, and means releas ably securing the brace members in said inward position. 3

' JOSEPH M. FELDMAN. 

